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Friday, May 29, 2015

Bumblebee: The Movie?

Thursday Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner presented at the Global Consumer Conference 2015 and TFW2005 was on hand to provide some information on some of their plans for their many properties including Transformers. On the Transformers front the CEO said:

"As we go forward, we would imagine several more Transformers movies. Not just in the current lineage but also spinoffs and focusing on certain key characters that a beloved by the world over. Many of you know Bumblebee; the yellow Camaro... formally known as a yellow VW Bug and he is a beloved character by kids all over the world. We could see stories told around Bumblebee and other characters

We are in a process of building the brand equity around the Comic Book Business, our TV Business, our Digital Gaming Business and adding to that our new movie business of Transformers. Last year was Transformers 4. It was quite a good success for us last year. We've begun to work with writers and we are now developing the Transformers [Cinematic] Universe beyond the first four movies. And we are continuing to have Television [programs] on the air with Cartoon Network where Transformers is performing quite well in the first quarter coming off of a movie year."

So the takeaway is the Transformers Cinematic Universe (TFCU? TCU?) will essentially copy the Marvel and Star Wars in approach with ensemble films and individual characters films. Also that Transformers: Robots in Disguise is considered a success so there could be more then just two seasons of the show and the IDW relationship continues to be going well. I would not read this to mean that Bumblebee is guaranteed a standalone film, just that he was being used as an example of the potential of such an approach. The news is good for the TF movie fans but I have to admit until I see some concrete plans the idea of Michael Bay's take on Transformers expanding to a yearly (or more) film per year does little to thrill me.